John Calvin on Christ as Eternal God

"If [outside] of God there is no salvation, no righteousness, no life, Christ, having all these in himself, is certainly God.  Let no one object that life or salvation is transfused into him by God.  For it is said not that he received, but that he himself is salvation.  And if there is none good but God, how could a mere man be pure, how could he be, I say not good and just, but goodness and justice?  Then what shall we say to the testimony of the evangelist, that from the very beginning of creation 'in him was life, and this life was the light of men'?  Trusting to such proofs, we can boldly put our hope and faith in him, though we know it is blasphemous [irreverence] to confide in any creature.  'Ye believe in God,' says he, ' believe also in me' (John 14:1).  And so Paul (Rom 10:11 and 15:12) interprets two passages of Isaiah, 'Whoso believeth in him shall not be confounded' (Isa 28:16); and, 'In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for [a banner] of the people; to it shall the gentiles seek' (Isa 11:10).  But why adduce more passages of Scripture on this head, when we so often meet with the expression, 'He that believeth in me has eternal life'?" (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1.13.13).

J.C. Ryle on the Narrow Way

"Do you want to understand what the times require of you in reference to your own soul?  Listen, and I will tell you.  You live in times of peculiar spiritual danger.  Never perhaps were there more traps and pitfalls in the way to heaven; never certainly were those traps so skillfully baited, and those pitfalls so ingeniously made.  Mind what you are about.  Look well to your goings.  Ponder the paths of your feet.  Take heed lest you come to eternal grief, and ruin your own soul.  Beware of practical infidelity under the specious name of free thought.  Beware of a helpless state of indecision about doctrinal truth under the plausible idea of not being party-spirited, and under the baneful influence of so-called liberality and charity.  Beware of frittering away life in wishing and meaning and hoping for the day of decision, until the door is shut, and you are given over to a dead conscience, and die without hope.  Awake to a sense of your danger.  Arise and give diligence to make your calling and election sure, whatever else you leave uncertain.  The kingdom of God is very near.  Christ the almighty Savior, Christ the sinner's Friend, Christ and eternal life, are ready for you if you will only come to Christ.  Arise and cast away excuses; this very day Christ calls you.  Wait not for company if you cannot have it; wait for nobody.  The times, I repeat, are desperately dangerous.  If only few are in the narrow way of life, resolve that by God's help you at any rate will be among the few" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

Children in the Storms of Life

In 1789 Rev. John Newton, the author of the famous hymn Amazing Grace, played a major role in the difficult effort to abolish slavery in the British Empire.  But in the midst of that effort a much more difficult circumstance occurred when Polly, his wife of forty years, became very ill.  For nearly eighteen months her condition slowly worsened and each day became an agonizing wait for her death.  On December 15, 1790, Polly Newton died after a long, painful, and strenuous battle. 

The same day Polly passed away, John Newton was visiting the sick in his church and preparing for the sermon he would give the following Sunday.  He even gave the eulogy at Polly’s funeral, something that was looked down upon by the people of that time.  Many saw John’s actions as uncaring and unloving, but it was far from the truth.

John Newton struggled through an eighteen-month storm, slowly watching the life of his wife ebb away.  That storm could have easily turned him away from God, but instead his faith increased and his love and reliance upon God strengthened.  So much so that he was able to move forward in life quickly, knowing he would see her again and that the Father would be his constant strength and rescuer in times of need.

Join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we look at John 6:16-21.  In this passage Jesus walks on the water in the midst of a storm, while his disciples struggle through the wind and waves to get their boat to shore.  May we be prayerfully prepared to discover how the Father takes care of his children in the midst of the storms of life, even when those children are sinking under the waves.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Pastor Mark

Believing Jesus

Well, it’s political season.  That time of the year when politicians say what the voters want to hear in hopes of getting elected.  In reality, though, it truly is a crapshoot whether they can or will deliver on their promises once they are elected.  But people like what they hear and so they vote with high expectations.

In the times of Jesus the Jews were no different.  Many within the Jewish community followed leaders who promised big because that is exactly what the people wanted to hear.  These leaders promised easy victory and political and material power.  So, many rallied behind these leaders with high expectations.

But Christ came promising a cross, not political and material power.  And the victory he promised was not easy, but very difficult and self-sacrificing.  This is not what the people, especially the religious leadership, wanted to hear.  So, Christ was rejected.

What are our expectations of Christ?  What are Christ’s expectations of us?  What does true discipleship and Christian belief look like when it comes to glory and faith?  Join us this week as we hear the words of Christ in John 5:41-47 and learn from the example He made of those who opposed Him.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Mark

Three Witnesses to Jesus

“Any responsible legal system is based on the validity of witnesses.  When Elijah Baptist was convicted for murdering Sam Blue outside his Chicago grocery store, it was on the testimony of just one eyewitness, Leo Carter.  Because he was such a credible witness, that was enough, and Elijah was sentenced to life in jail.  Leo was credible because of his clean record and because, while playing basketball with a friend right beside the store, he had seen it all.  He was even more credible because the murderer had tracked him down and put a bullet into his head just as he did to the other witness.  Leo survived, with terrible wounds. It was more than high drama when he sat in the courtroom, looked directly at Elijah Baptist with his scarred face and its missing eye, raised his finger, and slowly said, ‘That’s him.’  That was enough to secure a quick ‘guilty’ verdict” (Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ).

In any court of law the witnesses must be reliable.  In John 5:30-40 the Jewish leaders are still struggling with the words that Jesus proclaims about Himself.  Especially when he claims to be equal to God the Father.  So, though the words of Jesus should be enough, He provides three extra and reliable witnesses to the truth of His words, but these witnesses are not what the Jews expect.

Please join us this week at ElmCreek Community Church as we worship Jesus as the Savior and Messiah, striving together to understand the Word of God and His will for our lives.

Striving to know Christ and make Him known,

Mark